Sports Reporters

A long-time hockey writer covering the Sabres, Bucky is now a columnist and sports enterprise writer. The Buffalo State College graduate joined The News in 1998 after working for The Associated Press in Albany, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Buffalo. A college intern at The News, the Hamburg native also worked at the Niagara Gazette and Olean Times Herald. Bucky has covered Stanley Cup finals, the Olympics, Ryder Cup and NCAA Basketball Tournament. He has won several awards for his writing and in 2004 wrote a series about getting back into shape so he could run a 5-kilometer race. He also had Page One stories in 2004 on a local knuckleball pitcher trying to reach the majors and one on the life and death of former Pittsburgh Steeler Jason Strelczyk.

Mike, who covers the Triple A Bisons, Major League Baseball and major college basketball, joined The News in 1987 as a reporter covering high school sports. The Canisius College graduate was a college intern at The News. Mike has covered the World Series, baseball playoffs and NCAA Final Four. He also led coverage of St. Bonaventure’s recruiting and coaching scandals. He also covered the Boston Red Sox climb to the top of  Major League Baseball in 2004.

Rod joined The News in 2001 from the Cincinnati Post, where he covered college basketball. The Illinois native received his BFA from the University of Cincinnati and came to The News from the News Tribune in Tacoma, WA. He also worked for the Rochester Times-Union. Rod interned at the Syracuse Herald-Journal and did graduate work at Grambling University. He mainly covers University at Buffalo football and basketball, as well as helping cover the Buffalo Bills. Known for his writing skill, Rod also covers the NBA and the annual BCS national championship game.

Keith is one of two writers covering Western New York high school sports. A former college intern in the Sports Department, Keith has covered the Empire State Games, NASCAR races at Watkins Glen and the Brickyard 500 at Indy since joining the paper full time in 1999. A 1995 graduate of the University at Buffalo, he worked at the Ithaca Journal for three years, the last of those as sports editor before he returned to The News.

Mary Jo, who joined The News in 1993, also covers high school sports. A graduate of Bradley University, Mary Jo worked at the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Baseball America and the Elmira Star-Gazette before coming to Buffalo. A Lancaster native, she has covered golf, college sports and was a college softball and basketball player.

Amy started covering college sports for The News in1999. A Lockport native and St. Bonaventure University graduate, she worked for the Olean Times-Herald from 1995-99. She’s covered the NCAA Frozen Four, Big Four basketball and written several series on women in sports. She’s studying for her M.A. at the University at Buffalo. She also writes a weekly column on Western New Yorkers involved in college sports, here and at universities around the nation.

Milt currently sizes up the weekly NFL matchups and also writes a weekly bowling column. The University of Connecticut graduate previously worked for the Waterbury Republican and New Haven Register before joining The News in 1967.

Bob is The News’ long-time thoroughbred racing writer and columnist who produces the popular “Happy Handicapper” column. A St. Bonvaventure graduate, he joined The News in 1977 in the Business section after working at the Courier-Express and Niagara Gazette. He later moved to the Sports Department where he has written many enterprise stories, including his memorable series on casino games and how to play them. He has covered thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown races, as well as the Breeder’s Cup.

Senior Sports Columnist Jerry Sullivan joined The News in 1989 as a sports columnist after covering the NBA for New York City Newsday. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Jerry worked at the Binghamton Sun-Bulletin and the Syracuse Herald-Journal. He also free-lanced for Sport magazine. In his 15 years at The News, the Rhode Island native has covered all the major sporting events, including the Olympics, the Masters, Super Bowls, World Series, NCAA Final Four and the NBA. Jerry may be best known for his series of award-winning columns on learning the game of golf and trying to break 100.

Allen, a columnist and Bills beat writer, joined The News in 1992 from the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. A native of Durham, NC, he also worked at the Orlando Sentinel and the Durham Morning Herald. A graduate of North Carolina Central University, Allen also covered high school, college and professional basketball and the NCAA Final Four. A Bills beat writer since 1999, Allen has covered Super Bowls, several NFL playoff games and major college bowl games. One of Allen’s athletic claims to fame is playing pickup basketball against Michael Jordan in North Carolina.